Table cover panel and retaining means therefor



Jan. 23, 1945. s. KIRSCH 2,367,948

TABLE COVER PANEL AND RETAINING MEANS THEREFOR Filed July 20, I943 IN VEN TOR.

'' Sidnegfllinsah Patented Jan. 23, 1945 UNl'lED OFFICE TABLE COVERPANEL AND RETAINING MEAN S THEREFOR Sidney Kirsch, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 20, 1943, Serial No. 495,478

3 Claims.

This invention relates to rigid coversfor table ,tops and has particularreference to a retaining means for holding said cover panels in placeagainst slippage or other displacement of the same which may result inbreakage of the panel or damage to the table top.

The invention comprehends, as a covering for table tops, a rigid panelof a size and shape corresponding to the table top together withinterengaging devices respectively on the table top and cover panel forretaining the panel in superimposed relation to and upon the table topand fixed against relative movement with reference thereto.

The invention is especially useful in connection with dinette tables orthose of the type which include end extension leaves and comprehendsbracket elements for retaining rigid cover panels in fixed position uponthe table top and leaves with certain of the bracket elements havingyieldable resilient abutment means serving to prevent forcible contactof adjacent cover panels when the leaves are disposed in active relationto the table top.

More specifically, the invention is directed to table top or leaf coverpanels of the indicated character which are provided with upwardly andoutwardly flaring notches and brackets carried by opposite sides of thetop or leaves of the table and having upstanding upwardly and outwardlyflaring portions adapted to snugly fit the notches of the panels so asto fix the same thereto against relative movement with reference to thetop or leaf.

With the above enumerated and other objects in view, the invention isset forth in greater detail in the following specification, particularlypointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a table in which thetop and leaves are equipped with rigid cover panels and provided withretaining means con structed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged collective perspective view showing the table topand cover panel together with the retaining means in separatedjuxtaposition.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately onthe line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modified form ofretaining means for holding the cover panel on the table top.

Referring to the drawing by characters of reference, A designates a;table top and B the extension leaves which are supported in any desiredmanner for movement from an inactive out-ofthe-way position to theactive position shown in Fig. 1,-where they are disposed in-the sameplane with and adjacent to the opposite ends of the table top.

The present invention is directed to rigid cover panels C for the tabletop and leaves, which panels correspond respectively with the size andshape of the table top and leaves, said panels being preferablyconstructed of a non-metallic material such as glass, synthetic plastic,fibre or any other suitable material.

As shown, the opposite edges of each of the cover panels C are providedwith upwardly flaring notches ID of dove-tail formation having upwardlyand outwardly divergent side walls H. The table top B and the extensionleaves C are formed with notches 12 in the opposite edges thereof withwhich the notches ID of the cover panels register when said panels aresuperimposed upon the top or leaves so that the marginal edges are flushor in alignment. Retaining brackets I3 having a rectangular base portionare secured within the notches l2 of the table top and leaves by meansof screws 14 which pass through the base and are anchored in the edgeportions of said table top or leaf. The brackets 13 are formed withupwardly protruding dovetail portions [5 projecting-above the uppersurface of the leaf or table top and corresponding substantially in sizeand shape to the dovetail notches (0 of the cover panels C, saidportions l5 being adapted to snugly fit therein so as to retain thecover panel in superposed fixed relation upon the table top or leafagainst relative movement in any direction with reference thereto.

As disclosed in Fig. 1, the interfitting notches l0 and retainingbrackets [3 of the table top A are preferably arranged at the oppositeend edges thereof and the upwardly projecting dovetail portions 15 ofthe same are each formed with a centrally arranged opening 16 having aflared inner end IT. A buffer element [8 of rubber or an equivalentyieldable resilient material is frictionally fitted within said openingI6 and has a flared head I9 at the inner end thereof fitted within theflared inner end of the opening and backed up by and retained in placeby the adjacent edge of the cover panel C. The opposite outer end of theshank of the buffer element l8 protrudes beyond the outer surface of thebracket to engage with and function as a means for preventing forciblecontact of the adjacent edges of the cover panels of the table top A andleaves B.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 of thedrawing, the retaining bracket 20 is of a slightly different shape andis provided with continuous upwardly divergent side edges 2| with thelower portion thereof fitted and secured by a screw 22 in a dovetailnotch 23 in the edge of the table top or table leaf D and with the upperportion of said bracket fitting within a registering dovetail notch 24in the cover panel E.

What is claimed is:

1. In a table, a top having notches in the opposite edges thereof and arigid cover panel therefor having the marginal edges thereofsubstantially flush with the marginal edges of the table top, said panelhaving notches in the opposite edges thereof registering with the tabletop notches and defined by upwardly divergent opposite side walls andbrackets secured within the table top notches with portions-of saidbrackets projecting upwardly from the upper surface of the table top andof a size and shape to snugly fit within the notches of the cover panelto retain the same in fixed superimposed relation upon the table top.

2. In a table of the type which includes top and leaf sections adaptedto be disposed in contiguous relation, a rigid cover panel superimposedupon each table section and means for retaining the cover panels infixed relation to the table sections comprising registering notchedportions at opposite edges of the cover panels and table sections andbrackets secured within the notched portions of the table sections withportions thereof projecting upwardly therefrom, the notched portions ofsaid cover panels and the upwardly projecting portions of said bracketsbeing so shaped and interfitted as to prevent relative movement of thepanels with reference to the table sections.

3. In a table, a table top and a rigid cover panel thereforecorresponding in size and shape upwardly therefrom, the notched portionsof the cover panels and the upwardly projecting portions of saidbrackets being so shaped and interfitted as to prevent relative movementbetween the panel and tabletop.

SIDNEY KIRSGH.

